Spray gun nozzle and valve



. 24, 1940. .L F. sTRoUT SPRAY` GUNv NozzLE AND .VALVE Filed se'pt. 7; 1958 2 spans-sheet .1

Det. 24, K F STRQUT 2,225,759

Y SPRAY GUN NozzLEJAND VALVE VFiled sept- 7, 1938 2 sheets-sheet 2 10 inch.

Patented De'c. 24, 19940 UNITED STA-Tas PATENT OFFICE 2,225,759 SPRAY GUN Noz'zLE AND VALVE Leeman F. Strout, Stamford, Conn. Application September 7, 1938, Serial No. 228,877 1o claims. (cil zas-11s) pressures, it is necessary to have exceedingly efficient cut-off valves, and also exceedingly efllcient spray nozzles and spray creatingmembers. My invention relates especially to a combined nozzle and valve mechanism which isl extremely" eflicient in permitting an vea-sy cut-o tl" -'at the very highest of pressures, and in allowing fortl'iel control of the spray in a most eilicient manner. Heretofore, it has been exceedingly diillcult to 20 obtain a good spray adjustment, especially' at high pressures. I have conceived a construction permitting me to utilize very high pressure, and

` lyet so control the sprayand volume that I am4 able to spray tiny shrubs and also also tall trees, 25 all with the same nozzle and with the same pressure, using the spray control to obtain the necessary volume and type of spray.

As a preferred feature'of my invention, I use a cut-olf valve body having a series of fins there- 30 on supporting the same in a pipe forming the main body of my spray gun. Preferably, the valve body is tapered upwardly toward the Valve seat against which it moves, and in the direction of the fluid pressure so that the pressure may act 3" on this tapered body tending toforce it against v the valve seat. Preferably, however, I rely on a thrust rod of the rotating screw type well known in this art for moving the valve body against its seat. 4 0 As a further feature of my invention, I preferably incorporate between the thrust rod and the valve body a ball functioning as a ball bearing, whereby the rotating rod will apply thrust t ,said valve body moving it firmly against the valve Lseatwhile not imparting rotation thereto. For

' moving the valve, body against the valve pres- Q sure vand away `from the seat, I utilize the same thrust rod; using a very simple form of assembly -embodyinga pin and slot which I believe to be @Q extremely'novel and especially adapted for use in this art.

A further feature of my invention resides in the use of a spray forming member having water whirling grooves therein. Preferablyl but not It is readily seen that under such great with the valve bodyv and is formed as an extension of the valve body, and is mounted in juxtaposition to that portion of. the valve body which is the actual valve seatcooperating part of the body. Preferably also, I form the grooves in this 5 water whirling member of graduating depth, and I terminate these grooves at a point on`the periphery of 'the member maintained within a spray forming bore at the time that the valve body is against its seat. It is only after the valve body has moved oii' its seat that the portion of the member forming the starting point of the grooves is exposed outside of the spray forming bore. In

this way, I am able .to control the volume of the spray land the Aconsistency of the spray because forming the whirling spray; the further out the sprayl forming member moves Afrom the bore, the heavier the spray and the greater the volume of the spray. Y

As indicated previously, ,the valve body has iins thereon. These iins not only serve to maintain the valve body imposition in the pipe, but they may serve also to retain it against rotation such as might be imparted by reaction of the water withgthe grooves ot the spray forming member,

thefwater cooperating with the iilms to maintain 'the body against rotation and overcoming the reaction of the water to the4 spray forming 30 grooves.

As a further feature of my invention, I utilize a modiiication in which the spray forming grooves are formed in the spray forming bore rather than on a movable member. In this mod- 3" ication, I obtain the same control as in the previous modification, that is, the spray forming grooves are allowed to function only after the valve body isfirst moved on its seat. I also have an additional modification in which the valve body and the spray forming'member are not unitary, but rather are in two parts movable individually. As a further feature of my invention, I also incorporate the particular valve body in an arrangement useful for faucets or valves per se. There are undoubltedly many other features of the invention which will be appreciated by those skilled in this art, such as the means I use for securing the rubber washer of my valve body, which are extremely valuable as contributions to the art, and which will be pointed out hereinafter. It should be indicated also that while I shall'show and describe specic forms of my invention, I feel that I have made a relatively broad contribution to the art, and I do not 55 therefore wish to be limited in my monopoly except as required by the state of the art.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. l is a view of a gun of the type to which my invention is applied. Fig; 2 is a view along lines 2--2 of Fig. 1, While Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 are respectively sectional views taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2 and lines 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a partial section of a modification of my invention. Fig. 6 is a, side view of the valve body of Fig. 5, while Fig. 7 is an end view thereof. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a further modication of the invention. Fig. 9 is a section through the modification of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a section through a modification of my invention wherein I utilize a spray forming bore in which are formed water whirling grooves. Also,

- in the form of invention illustrated in Fig. 10, I

,ings and especially to Figs. 1-4, inclusive, reference numeral I0 represents the main body portion of a spray gun having an intake portion II and a control handle I2, which control handle is adapted to rotate and by this rotation to impart longitudinal movement to the thrust rod I3A illustrated in Fig. 2. The construction of handle I2 and thrust rod I3 is well known in the art and need not be shown in detail here. The upper end of the gun body'or main pipe portion IIJ is threaded at I4, and is adapted to receive through these threads a nozzle portion I5. This nozzle portion might be integral, of course, with the body I0, but for manufacturing purposes it is probably best made as I have illustrated it. The

nozzle I5 has a spray forming bore I6 and further bores I1 and I8, all of which will be well understood by those skilled in the art. The spray forming bore I6 runs from a valve seat I9 presenting a right angled edge to a fiber member 20 carried by the valve body 2| mountedwithin the pipe portion I0. The portion 2IJ may be of fiber or of any other suitable material, depending on the chemical analysis of the liquid to be forced through the pipe I0. In a modified form of my invention described below, I show a rubber washer held in place by novel means which make possible the use of a rubber washer.

The fiber member 20 will be maintained against the end surface of the valve body 2| through means of a spray forming member 22, a metal washer 23 and a cotter pin 24, all mounted on the rod 25 forming an integral extension of the valve body 2I. It will be noted that the member 22 is substantially the same size as the diameter of the bore I 6, and therefore prevents the blowing 01T or the forcing off of the fiber member 20. Even in those modifications where member 22 is not a spray forming member, it will nevertheless function as in this modication to hold fiber member 2l] against the heavy pressures used in devices of this sort.

The spray forming member 22 is equipped with a series of spray forming grooves 26 which preferably extendy substantially on the circumference or outer periphery of the member 22, and these grooves 26 are of varying depth, beginning at 21 directly on the periphery of the member 22 and terminating in a relatively deep end 28.

Aof Fig. 2 to expose the grooves 26.

- art.

It will be noted thatl the beginning 2l of each of the grooves 26 is at a point Within the bore I6 when valve body 2I is positioned with the ber member 20 against the seat I9, as is quite apparent from Fig. 2. Thus, even if water were allowed to ow past the seat I9, it would not enter any of the grooves 26 in the position of the parts in Fig. 2. Y

It is only after the fiber member 20 is moved off seat I9 that the spray forming member 22 is moved suiciently to the right from its position It is only thereafter that spray may be formed by those grooves. Naturally, the further out of bore I6 the member 22 is moved, the deeper the portions ofthe grooves exposed to the water or other fluid, and the greater the volume and heavier the consistency of the "spray formed. All this it is thought will be quite clear to those skilled in the art.

It will be noted that the valve body I2 is equipped with a series of three fins 29 formed integrally therewith. The body 2I is adapted through these ns to be supported in the pipe I0 for free rotation therein. It will be yappreciated that since the valve body may thus rotate freely, reaction of water or other uid with the grooves 26 of the member 22 would ordinarily tend to rotate the body and member 22,. resulting in a relatively poor action.

The lns 29 cooperate with the water or other uid to overcome this tendency to rotate and thus maintain the valve body and member 22 against substantial rotation. It will also be requires assistance, or where a fast and complete cut-01T is necessary.

For the utilization of rod I3, the valve body 2I is drilled out as at 33 and houses a thrust ball 34 against which the end 35 of the rod I3 is adapted to press. Naturally, other equivalent constructions may be used and will of course readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the In order to obtain movementy of the valve bodyv to the right and away from its seat in Fig. 2 against the pressure of the water, I have a further connection between the rod I3 and the valve body 2| utilizing a pin 36 running vertically through bores 3T and 33 in the valve body and' through a groove 39 of the rod I3. Naturally, the groove 39 will permit the rod I3v to rotate relatively to the member 36 but will not permit substantial endwise movement. 'There is, of course, sufficient play between the pin 36 and the I believe the particular assembly is espegroove39 so that thrust may be imparted against the ball .34 without interference from pin 36,

. 69. The operation of the rod and to permit of free action by the uid pressure on tapered surface 30 of the valve body.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, I show my invention applied to a faucet wherein a lever handle a cam 42, which in turn cooperates with the end of the rod 25 of a valve body assembly, exactly like that of Figs. 2 and 4, except that this assembly does not have a water whirling member 22. In other ways, the valve body 2| is the same as the valve body 2| of Figs. 2 and 4. Instead of having a thrust rod I3, it utilizes a thrust rod 43 cooperating with a spring 44. I'he spring 44 is merely present to assist the moving of the valve body 2| and its Washer 22 against the valve seat I 9, but in the main, the water pressure operatingragainst the tapered surface 36 of the valve body is relied upon, as will be readily appreciated from the description of the valve body previously described. Rotation of handle 40 actuates cam 42 and moves valve body 2| oif its seat I9 to allow the flow of the water. Reverse rotation of handle 4D permits spring 44, through rod 43, assisted by the water pressure, to return valve body 2| against its seat.

Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9, I show a further modified form of my invention in which I utilize a spray gun having a spray forming portion separate from the valve body 2l. In the modification of Figs. 8 and 9, the main body of the gun is indicated by reference numeral 56 and has a manually operating member mounted through means of a ball 52 in pivoting relation to a housing 53 maintained in proper position in a vertical sleeve-like extension 54 of the main body 50', through cooperation with a cap member 55. From the lower side of the ball 52 extends a cam pin 56 entering a slot 51 of a thrust imparting rod 58, which has secured thereto at its extreme left a spray forming member of the type described in connection with Fig. 2, or of the type illustrated in' Figs. 10-14, inclusive.

The valve body 2| of Fig. 9 is in all particulars like that of the valve body 2| of Fig. 5 and operates just like that of Fig. 5, to permit the flow of fluid when the end 58a of the rod 58 is moved against the rod portion 25. It will of course be noted that the manually operated member 5| will iirst move the valve body 2| o its seat |9 just as in the modification oiFig. 2, and will thereafter move the spray forming member to spray forming position.

Referring now to Figs. .l0-14` l show a modified form of my invention in which water whirling grooves 60 are formed in a water whirling .bore

6|, instead of on a spray forming member 62 as in the first modification described. The spray forming bore 6| is formed in a nozzle member 63 which is secured through screw threads to an intermediate member 64 which is secured in turn through screw threads to the main pipe member of my spray head 65, all as is best illustrated in Figs. and 14.

A valve body 66 having ns 61 similar to those of the rst modification, is secured through a pin 68 to the rotating and endwise moving rod 69 for moving the valve body 66 is the same as in the first modification described, except that the pin 68 traversing as it does bores 18 and 1| in the valve body andfrod 69, secures the valve body and rod for rotation together as the rod is rotated through means described in the first modification.

As has already been indicated, it is necessary that that portion of the valve body which actually 40 is adapted through a shaft 4| to rotate mount the washer 12 on fits against the valve seat, in this case a rubber washer 12, be maintained against rotation as the valve body isfdriven toward its seat. Because the mainA valve body`66 is rotatable, 1 a valve portion 13, which valve portion 13 carries also the spray forming member 62. This member 62 is screw threaded on to a threaded post 14 extending from the valve portion 13. The valve portion 13 is formed with a headed end 15 having a shallow bore 16 and separated from the main` body of valve portion 13 by a neck 11. The valve body 66 is slotted at 18 for the insertion of head of the valve portion 13, as is probably best shown in the exploded view, that is, Fig. 13. Once the valve portion 13 ismoved so that its head 15 is within the slot 18, it is of course secured against endwise movement relatively to the valve body 66, and will thereafter move endwise with the body 66.

- In actually assembling the parts, the head 15 I is inserted into the slot 18 before the rod 69 is moved into itsbore 19 in the valve body 66. As the rod 69 thereafter moves into the bore 19, it also enters the bore 16 of the head 15, as is probably best illustrated in Fig. 10. Thereafter, when the pin 68 is driven home securing the valve body to rod 69, the end of the rod 69 lies within the bore 16 and secures the valve portion 13 against movement relativelyto the valve body 66,'` that.

is, it secures the head 15 of portion 13 against movement out of slot 18. With the parts so assembled, it is quite obvious that the valve portion 13 while moving endwise, will not rotate as the valve body 66 is rotated by the rod 69.

It will be noted especially from Figs. 10 and 11, that `when the 'rubber washer 12 is against its valve seat shutting off the flow of water into the spray forming bore 6|, the end of the spray forming member 62 covers the ends of the water whirling grooves 60. Therefore, even should liquid leak past the washer 12, it will not be able to move through the grooves 60 to form a spray. Incidentally, the grooves 6U may be of varying width, or varying depth, and may assume any contour which is desired for particular work.

Once the valve body and valve portion 13 are moved to withdraw the washer 12 from its seat, water will be exposed to the water whirling grooves 68. However, the initial withdrawal of the washer 12 from its seat will be accomplished before spray forming member 62 exposes the ends of the water whirling grooves 68. Therefore, further movement of the valve body 66 and spray forming member 62 is necessary to nally expose the water vwhirling grooves 69, as is best illustrated in Fig. 10, whereupon the water or other liquid owing past the washer 12 and its valve seat will be allowed to move through the water whirling grooves 60 and through the spray formskilled in the art.

As will be best noted byvviewing Fig. 10, my rubber washer 12 rests against a concave surface 80 of the valve portion 13. The end surface of the spray forming member 62 is .also formed concave and presses against the other face of the washer 12. It is therefore apparent that the rubber washer 12 is pressed between two concave surfaces so as to be maintained always firmly against concave surface 8|), which is the surface from which it will tend to separate under the influence of Water pressure.

' I now claim: -4

1. In a device of the class described, a pipe,

a freely rotating valve body in said pipe, a water whirling member carried by said valve body, and

ns on said body supporting the body in central position in said pipe and of such size that the 5 water pressure on the iins will maintain the body ,against rotation.

2. In a device of the class described, .a pipe, a

Ifreely rotating valve body in said pipe, a water l `whirling member carried by said valve body, fins on said body supporting the body in central position in said pipe andv of such size that the water pressure on the fins will maintain said body against` rotation, and means in thrustl relation to said valve body adapted to move it against a valve seat in said pipe.

3. In a device of the class described, a pipe, a freely rotating valve body in said pipe, a water whirling member carried by said valve body, ns

on said body supporting the body in central posi-l tion in said pipe and of such size that the water pressure on the fins will maintain said body `against rotation, a rotating thrust imparting rod in said pipe, and a ball between said rod and valve body whereby said rod may apply thrust but not rotation to said valve body to move it against a valve seat in said pipe.

4. In a device of the class described, a pipe, a freely rotating valve body in said pipe, a water whirling member carried by said valve body, ns on said body supporting the body in central position in said pipe and of such size that the Water pressure on the flns will maintain said body against rotation, a rotating thrust imparting rod in said pipe, a ball between said rod and valve body whereby said rod may apply thrust but not rotation to said valve body to move it against a valve seat in said pipe, and additional r means of connection between said valve body and rod whereby said rod may move said valve body away from said valve seat against the water pressure in said pipe. f

5. In a device of theclass described, a pipe, a freely rotating valve body in said pipe, a water whirling member carried by said valve body, and lns on said body supporting the body in central position in said pipe and of such size that the water pressure on the ns will maintain thebody against rotation, the body of said valve from which said fins extend being tapered whereby the water pressure thereag-ainst urges the valve body against a valve seat in said pipe.

6. In a spray gun of the class described, a pipe having a spray forming bore, a water whirling spr-ay forming member in said spray forming 55 bore and of substantially the same diameter as said bore so that the water will pass with difliculty through said bore, water whirling grooves on said spray forming member terminating at a point on said member maintained within said 60 bore and out of access to the water, said grooves being of gradually increasing depth, and manually rotatable means for moving said member to withdraw part of it from said bore to expose said grooves whereby to allow the water to traverse said grooves andsaid bore. k

7. In a spray gun device of the kclass described, a pipe, a valve seat therein, a valve body adapted to move against said seat, a spray forming bore,

a water whirling spray forming member of a diameter substantially that of said spray forming bore adapted to slide in said bore, manually rotatable means for moving said valve body away from said seat and to slide said member in said bore, water whirling grooves on said member terminating at a point on said member maintained within said bore when said valve body is against said valve seat whereby said valve body must be moved ofi said seat prior to the exposure of said water whirling grooves, the said grooves being of gradually increasing depth whereby the movement of said member out of said bore will vary the consistency of the whirling spray formed by said grooves.

8. In a device of the class described, a pipe having a valve seat and a spray forming bore, a valve body in said pipe having a portion adapted to t against said seat, a water whirling spray forming member extending from said valve body into said spray forming bore and of a diameter substantially that of said spray forming` bore, water whirling grooves on said member terminating at a point on said member maintained within said boreA when said valve body is against said valve seat, whereby lsaid valve body must be moved 01T said seat prior to the exposure of said water whirling grooves, and ns on said valve body adapted to cooperate with the water pressure for maintaining said valve body against rotation due to the reaction between the water and said water whirling grooves.

9. In a combination of the class described, a valve body, a rod, a pin traversing said valve body and rod for securing the two for integral movement one with the other, a valve seat member adapted for longitudinal movement with said valve body and rod while free to rotate relatively -thereto substantially for the purpose described,

said valve body having a slot and said valve seat having a part movable into said slotwhereby to be secured thereafter against longitudinal movement relatively to said valve body, and a portion of said rod entering a bore in said valve seat member when said rod is connected with said valve body through said pin, whereby said rod maintains said valve seat member against movement out of said slot while allowing rotation of said valve seat member relatively to said valve body in the axis of said rod.

10. In a combination of the class described, a valve body, a rod, means securing said valve body and rod for longitudinal movement, a valve seat member adapted for longitudinal movement with said valve body and rod while free to rotate relatively thereto substantially for the purpose described, said valve body having a slot and said valve seat having a part movable into said slot whereby to be secured thereafter against longitudinal movement relatively to said valve body. and .a portion of said rod entering a bore in said valve seat member when said rod is connected with said valve body through said means, whereby said rod maintains said valve seat member against movement out of said slot while allowing rotation of said valve seat member relatively to said valve body in the axis of said rod.

LEEMAN F. STROUT. 

